Apple CEO Tim Cook Meets With China’s Leaders to Strengthen Ties

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently traveled to China where he met with senior Chinese leader Li Keqiang in an effort to strengthen ties and bolster the company’s presence in the country, The Wall Street Journal said on Wednesday. Cook also discussed how Apple can cooperate better with China and how the two can work on intellectual property issues. Apple is currently fighting a legal battle with the Chinese firm Proview over its “iPad” trademark. Apple’s late CEO Steve Jobs chose not travel to China for similar meetings.

Apple will also reportedly increase its Chinese investments. Chinese leaders, who are particularly interested in bolstering the economy and industry in Western China hope other international companies follow suit. The Wall Street Journal also said Li told the state-run Xinhua news outlet that China is hoping international companies, such as Apple, “pay more attention to caring” for workers in Chinese-based plants. Explosions in two of Apple’s iPad factories have raised questions about the company’s focus on safety in the factories that it partners with to build its products. Apple recently said it is increasing its inspections at all of its facilities.